Cager and sump-guard.



G, HOLMES. CAGER AND SUMP GUARDA APPLICATION FILED NOV. 2, 1910.

LGSLTM, Patented July 9, 1912.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

G. HOLMES.

GAGER AND SUMP GUARD.

APPLICATION FILED Nov, 2, 1910,

.,31,714 Patented July 9, 1912.

2 SHEBTSS/HEBT 2. g

anonimi,

GRANT HOLMES, OF DANVILLE,r lltiLINOlS, ASSIGNOR TO ROBERT HOLMES & BROTHERS,

CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS.

0F DANVILLE, ILLINOIS, A

CAGER AND SUMP-GUARD.

Specification Letters Patent.

mp etarras re nner ernten.

Application filed November 2. 1910. Serial No. 590,291.

To all whom t may concern Be it known that l. GRANT Hoiiiiiris, a citizen of the United States` residing at Danville, in the county of Vermilion and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in (lagers and lSump-Guards, of which the following1 is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying` drawings.

This invention relates to cagers and sump guards and is designed more particularly for delivering cars to elevators in coal mines.

Theobject of the invent-ion is to provide a cagerjvhich willbe actuated by power-4 operated mechanism; a-lso to provide a series ot automatic stops, whereby the delivery of the car to the eager, the discharge of the cars to he controlled by the controlling dc--fl vices for the power-operated mechanism.

ln the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a top, plan view of a eager embodying my invention, showing` the saine applied to a double tra-ck; Fig. 2 is a side elevation of what. is shown iii Fig. 1 Fig. 3 is a sectional view.r taken on the line :rv .r of Figi and looking' iii the direction of the. arrows; and Fig. 4 is a detail view of the stop for retaining the cars on the eager.

l'ii these drawingsl l have illustrated one embodiment of my invention and have Shown the saine in connection with an elevatoi vcomprising the usual shaft. l iii which is supported a vertically movable elevator platform or cage 2 provided witlra track section v3 to support the cai'. This cage. may

be operated in any suitable manner. and, when in its normal position, which, in the construction here shown, is its lowermost position, one end ot the track 3 thereof will he in alinement with the track erento which the empty car carried by the cage may be discharged. At the same time the other end of the track 3 of the cage will be in alinement with a track which delivers the loaded car thereto. This track comprises a fixed track section 5 arranged immediately adjacent to the elevator and preferably sloping toward the same toenable the car to be delivered from'the track to the ca ge by force of gravity. Immediately beyond the fixed track section and comprising a` part of the same track is a movable track section 6, which, in the present form of the device, has that end adjacent to the fixed track section 5 pivotally supported, as indicated at 7 and its opposite end free to move vertically and which constitutes the eager proper. Arranged beyond the movable track section or eager and also forming a partof the same track is a second fixed track section R which preferably slopes toward the movable track section. In the operation of the eager the cars are fed forward to a point near the free end of the movable track section where they are retained until the movable track section is in its lowermost or receiving position. The foremost'car is then delivered to the movable track sect-ion or eager proper` on which it is retained until the cage is in a position to receive jt.. The movable track arrangement of the several parts cot'iperat-Lv ing to secure the results above outlined may, of course/,tbe widely varied to adapt the saineA to various. conditions or lrequireinentspand. 1t will be understood that the parts here.l .shown as accomplishing these results have been chosen forl tliepurjfiose of illustration only. f y y The movable track section is preferably controlledv by fa suitable power-operated.

hoisting device which is here shown as comraten't'ea Jury 9,1912.

ati

prising a vertically arranged fluid pressure cylinder 9 arranged at one side of and adjacent tothe -tree end ot the movable track section or cage proper. This cylinder is -5 provided with the usual piston l0 and piston rod 11. lo the upper end of the piston rod 11 are connected two cables 12 and 13 which extend over sheavesl ist carried by a frame 15. The cable 13 passes about its sheave, thence downward aud is connected with the free end ot the track on that side thereof adjacent the cylinder. The cable 12 extends across the track, about a sheave 1G mounted on the frame 15 on the opposite side of the track, thence downward and is connected to the free end of the track on that side thereof opposite the cylinder. The admission ofstcam, or other motor Huid, to the cylinder is controlled by a valve 17. This valve may be of any suitable character and is controlled by a pitman 18 connected at its upper end with the valve and at its lower end to a crank 19 carried by a shaft 20. This shaft is a rocks-haft and is Iconnected by means of a-second crank 21 and a connecting rod 22 with a lever which is arranged at that point from which itis desired to control the eager. ln the present instance the lever is arranged at a "point innnediatcly adjacent. to the elevator andr a platform 24 is provided for the Operato from which he may watch the operation of the cage and control the eager accordingly. The movement of'the rockshaft tl'iii one direction opens the valve 17 and admits steanrabove the piston l0 and cylinder'tlfthereby depressing the same and elevating the free end ot the movable track section and imparting to the track section such a'degrec of Inclination as to discharge the car therefrom and cause the same .tof

pass oft' the movable section and over the -intervening tixed track section with a sufficient degree ot force to dump the emptyI car fotl' the cage. Vhen the rockshaft is moved in the opposite direction the steam will be cut ofi from the upper end of the cylinder and the exhaust opened,thereby permitting the `track section to return to its lower-most or normal position of its own weight. hoisting mechanism is not new, it being shown and described in Patent No. 804,95), granted to me Nov. 21, 1905, for an automatic car lift. s

The movable track section G when in its 'normal position is vpre't'crably slightly in- -clined, but whether it is inclined or Ipertectly level it is desirable that a suitable .stop should be provided to retain the car 1n a proper position thereon and prevent its discharge therefrom until the movable track section has assumed the proper degree of 'nclination I have, therefore, provided an automatically controlled stopjby means of The specific construction of this.,

which the movement ot the car is checked at the proper point and the car released when the movable track section has been moved into its inclined position. Preferably, therel are two ot' these stops, one adjacent to cach rail ot the track. As here shown each stop comprises a dog 25 pivotally mounted on the track section and pret erably at a point beneath the rail, as indin cated at 26. This dog comprises an upwardly extending arm having an otfsct portion adapted to extend above the'rail and into the path ot thc wheel oi" the car. The dog has also a laterali)Y extending-projection or arm 27 exteiuliiig outwardly or away from the track. The arm or projection 27 is of sutieient weight to cause the dog to move about its pivotal center and to carry the same away from the rail and out of the path ot' the car wheel. A suitable fixed stop is arranged to engage the projection or arm 27 and move the dog into and out ot its operative position at the proper times. As here shown this stop comprises a bracket 28 luivinga vertical slot through which the arm or projection 27 extends. When the movable track section is in its lower-mostposition the arin'27 will engage the bottom ot the slot in the bracket and will be held in a position to support the dog above the track rail and in the path of the car wheel, as indicated in iull lines in Fig. 4. As the track section moves upward the frictional contact between the car wheel and the dog will hold the dog against lateral movement until positive torce is applied to the arm 27. This force is so applied to the arm when it engages the upper end of the slot in the. bracket 28. lVhen the arm has so engaged the upper end of the slot, and is held against further movement, the continued movement ot the track section will cause the dog to be moved about its pivotal center and out of the path of the car wheel, thereby permitting the car to bc discharged from the movable track section.

-Means arc preferably provided for varying the degree of inclination which must be imparted to the track section before the car is discharged therefron'l. This` is here ae.- eomplished by providing an adjustable stop `t'or the upper end ot' the bracket 28 which is shown as comprising a set screw 29 screw-threaded in the upper end of thc bracket and having its inner end arranged in the path ot the arm 27 and constituting the upper limit oi movement of that arm. As soon as. the dog is moved out of engagement with the wheel thc arm 27 will move downward of lo\vn weight. until itengages the bottomyoithe bracket 28 and will remain in this position until the track sec- `tion lis moved to its lowermost position,

which movement Will cause the dog and its arm to bei-again moved about their pvr otal'eenter to yplace the-dog in its operative position, that is, in a position to engage the car wheel. vSuitable'stops are also provided to check the movement of the car following the one which has been'delivered to the eager and toretain'this caron the fixed track section 8 until the' car on the eager has been discharged' and vthe eager has returned to its normal position. When a car has been deliveredto the eager and is in Contact with the stops the forward end of the succeeding car will engage the rear end thereof and the movement of the succeeding car wil1,'of course, be checked. Arranged alongside of the rails of ythe track section 8 are two laterally movable dogs which are located between the eager and the `line on which the wheels of the succeeding car stand V when said succeeding car is in engagement v so . manner of toggle levers.

track section 8, to move onto, the eager.y

path of said succeeding car.

track \,section or eager G.

with a car on` the eager. As the eager is elevatedand the car discharged therefrom the `stops 30 are automatically moved into position above the track rails and into the When the cager descends` to its normal position the stops 30 are automatically moved out of the paths of the car wheels and said succeeding car is permitted to move onto the eager. In the `mechanism here shown for accomplishing this result the laterally movable dogs are pivotally connected to the track section on vertical axes, as indicated at 31, the connection being preferably made with a transverse bar 32 which is rigidly secured to the track section and is arranged to support the dogs in their proper positions relative to. the track rails. Connected to the dogs 3Oat7points -forward of their pivotal centers are levers 33 pivotally connected one to the other at their inner ends, after the Connected to the levers 33 at their point of connection one to the other is a bar 34 which is preferably slidably mounted in suitable guides 35 and is capable of movement,longitudinally to the track section. A spring 36 connected to that'end of the bar 34 opposite the eager tends to move the dogs or stops 3() toward the track rails and into their operative positions. That end of the slide bar 34 adjacent to the eager is connected by means ofa link 37 with one arm of a bell crank lever 38, the other arm of which extends beneath and into the path of the movable l Consequently` when the cagerdescends to its lowerrnost position'the bell crank lever ywill'loeaetuated to move the slide bar forward and to move the dogs or stops30 away 'i from the track rails, thereby permittingthe car on `the When eager or movable track section is elevated the bell crank lever is released.` and thespring 36 jmoves the 'dgs into the path of the wheels of the succeeding car.

Vthen the car has been delivered by the empty car is discharged, wil-l move into operative position to check the movement of the loaded car which isv being delivered to the cage. As here shown this stop comprises a lever 39 pivotally mounted between its ends on the elevator platform at a point below the rails of the track thereon.y One end of this levei' is weighted, as indicated at 40, and normally this weight will tend to move the opposite end of the lever upward and into position to engage the wheel of a car assinfr over the track 3. This osition t1 is occupied by the stop as the cage descends with an empty car and is indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 3.

A suitable trigger 41 is pivotally mounted on the frame work of the shaft 1 and is so controlled that as the cage descends the upper end of the trigger will be engaged by a projection or 'lug 42 carried by the weighted end of the lever or stop 39 and will check the downward movement of this end of the lever or stop. The continued movement of the cage will cause the lever or stop to be moved about its pivotal center and thc end thereof depressed to a point below the track rail and out of the path of the car wheel, thereby releasing the empty car and permitting it to be discharged from the cage when it is engaged by the loaded car discharged froni the eager. The trigger 41 is preferably mounted on a transverse shaft 43 vto which is rigidly secured a lever 44, one

end of which is provided with a weight which tends to move the opposite end thereof above the track 4 and into the path of a car passing over that track. When the trig-v ger is iii engagement with the weighted end of the stop 39 the end of the lever 44 will be in a position to be engaged by the car discharged from the'cage. This car will depress the upper end of the lever 44, rock the shaft 43 and move the trigger out of engagement with the stop 39, thereby permitting this stop to be moved by the eight 40 into thc path `of the wheels of the loaded car which is bcingdelivered to thecage. ln the present embodmient of the invention l have shown the same as applied to a double track, y

arranged in the described positions with relation to the respective tracks. It will be understood, however, that the invention is equally applicable to a single track or to any desired number of tracks.

The operation of the several parts of the mechanism have been clearly described and it will be apparent that the movable track section or eager proper is operated by poweractuated mechanism which may be controlled from an advantageous point. Further, it will be apparent that the movementI of the car is automatically,v controlled throughout the caging operation; and that the stops by means of which this control is 'effected are controlled by the movement of the eager. ln two instances this control is direct, while in the third instance the stop is `controlled by the car which is discharged by the eager onto the cag and which, in turn, causes the empty car to be discharged from the cage, thereby actuating the controlling mechanism to release the stop carried by the cage.

l do notl claim as my invention the broad idea of providing a pivoted track section with a movable stop to control. the movement of the car thereon, which stop is actuated by the movement of the track section about its. pivotal center. This broad idea is disclosed in Patent No. 774,0-t?, granted to W. ll. Davis and A. M. lVood, Nov. l, 1904. l do, however, consider myself to be the first to provide a laterally movable stop controlled by the movement of the track section and also the first to provide. a stop arricd b v the movable track section itself and actuated by the movement thereof.

. lVhile the apparatus is shown and is above described as adapted to handle a single ear it will be obvious that it :an be made to handle a plurality of cars by merely enlarging the construction and without departing in any sense-trom the principles involved. I1`urther, it will be apparent. that many minor changes in the construction and arrange-v ment of the parts are possible. without materially changing the results achieved and I, therefore, wish it to be understood that do not desire to be limited to the details of construction shown and described, `tor obvious moditications will occur to a person skilled in the art.

'Having thus fully described myinvention, what ll claim as new and desire to secure by Letters .la tent, is

't. '.Ihe combination, with an elevator, oi a track leading/to said elevator and "emprising a movable section and a fixed Section interposed'between said movable section and said elevator, operating mechanism connected with said movable section to move it into an inclined position, and means tor controlling said operating mechanism. v

.2. The combination, with an elevator, ot'

a track leading to said elevator and comrising a movable section and a fixed section interposed between said movable section and said elevator, power-operated mechanism arranged adjacent to and connected with said movable section to move it into an inclined position, and means arranged near said elefator'for controlling said mechanism.

3. The combination, with an elevator, 0f a track leading thereto and comprising a section adjacent to said elevator and a second section lying beyond the first-mentioned section and having that end adjacent thereto pivotally supported, power-operated mechanism arranged adjacent to said pivoted track section to move the same about its pivotal center, and means arranged near said elevator for controlling said operating mechanism.

4. The combination, with an elevator, of a track leading thereto and comprising a section adjacent to said elevator, and a second section lying beyond the first-mentioned section and having that end adjacent thereto pivotally supported, a Huid pressure cylinder arranged near the free end of said pivoted track section, a piston mounted in said cylinder and operatively connected with said pivoted track section, a valve to control` the flow of tluid to said cylinder, and a manually operated control- 'ling lever for said valve.

5. The combination, with an elevator comprising two independently movable platforms, of tracks leading to the respect-ive platforms and each comprising a movable section, power-operated mechanism to move said movable track sections into inclined positions, a platform arranged between said tracks near said elevator, and means supported near said platform for. controlling said power-operated mechanSm' to cause said movable track sections to be' independently moved into inclined positions.

G.' The combination, with a movable track section, and means for movingthe same into an inclined position, of a laterally movable stop mounted near said track section, and means for automatically moving said stop into and out of its operative position.

7 The combination, with a movable track section, and means for moving the same into an inclined position, of a laterally movable stop mounted near each side of said track section, and means controlled by the movelnent of said track section for moving said stops into and out of their operative positions.

8. 'lhe combination, with a movable track section, and means for moving the same into an inclined position, of a laterally movable stop mounted near said track section and arranged to extend above one of the rails thereof when said track section is in its normal position, and means controlled by the movement of said track section into an inclined position formoving said stop away from said rail.

9. The combinatiomwith a movable track section, and means for moving the same into an inclined position, of a stop movably mounted on said track section and arranged to extend above one of the rails thereof whensaid track section is in its normal position, and means controlled by the movement of said track section into an inclined position for moving said stop away from lsaid rail.

'10. The combination, with almovable track section, and means for moving the same 'into an inclined position, of a movable stop carried by said track section, and means controlled by the movement of said track section to move said stop into and out of its operative position.

1i. The combination, with a movable track section, and means for moving the same into an inclined position, of a stop movably mounted onl said track section, means to hold said lstop in operative position when said track section is 'in its normal position and-to move said stop into an inoperative position when said track section is moved j j into an inclined position.

aoy

l2. The combination, with a pivoted track section, and means for moving the saine about its pivotal center, of a laterally .movable stop, and means actuated by the {novement of said track section to move said stop into an inoperative position.

13. The combination, with a pivoted track Section and means for moving the saine about its pivotal center, of a laterally movable stop, and means actuated by the movement of said track section to move said stop into and out of its operative position.

14. The combination, with a pivoted track section, and means for moving the same about its pivotal center, of a stop pivotally mounted on said. track section, and means positively actuated by the movement of said track section for moving said stop about its .mounted on said track section, ,lionary member arranged near said track ivotal center.

15. The combination, with a-pivoted track section, and means for moving the same about its pivotal center, of a stop pivotally mounted on said track section on an axis extending longitudinallythereto, and. means positively actuated by the movement of said track section for moving said stop about its pivotal center.

16. The combination, with a pivoted track; seclion, and means for moving the same about its pivotal center, of a stop pivotally and a stasection and adapted to engage a part carried by said stop and move the latter about its pivotal y is moved about its pivotal-center.

center when'nsaid track section 17. The combination, Witha pivoted track section, and means Jfor moving the same about its pivotal center, oi" a stop pivotally mounted on said track section and having a lateral projection, and a iixed member adapted to be engaged by said projection and to cause said stop to move about its pivotal center. l A

18. The combination, with a pivotedltrack section, and means i'or moving the same about its pivotal center, ot' a stop pivotally mounted on said track section and having a lateral projection, a fixed member adapted to be engaged by said projection and to causesaid stop to move about its pivotal center, and means for adjusting the point of engagement of said projection with said iixed member.

19. The combination, with a movable track section, and means vfor moving the saine into an inclined position, ot a stop inovably supported near said track section, means for movingl said stop into an inoperative position when said movable track seetion is moved into an 'inclined position, :ind means to control the degree of inclination of said t ai-k section at which said stop will be actuated.

20. rl`he combination, with a pivoted track section, and means for moving the same about its pivotal center, oi a dog pivotally mounted on said track section and having a part adapted to extend into an operative position relatively thereto, a projection eX- tending laterally from said dog and rigidly secured thereto, a lstationary bracket arranged near said track section and having an opening into which said projection eX- tends, whereby the movement ot' said track section in either direction will cause said projection to engage lthe upper or lower 'walls ot' said opening and thereliy cause said dog to be moved into an inoperative or an operative position.

2li. ',lhe coml'iination, with an elevator, a track' leading theretoA and comprising a pivoted trackA section, of manually controlled means for moving said track section about its pivotal center, a stop supported near said track section and adapted to occupy section is in its normal position, and means controlled by the movement of said track section about its pivotal center -for moving said stopinto an inoperative position.

22; The combination, with a fixed track section, and a vertically vmovable tracksection, of a stop pivotally supported near said fixed track section, means to retain said stop normally in an operative position, and means 'controlled by the downward movement of lsaid movable track section to move said stop into an inoperative position.

23. lhe combination, with a fixed track section, and afvertically movable'track section, of a stop pivotally supported near said fixed track section. a spring connected with said' stop and tending to hold the same in an operative positionfand means arranged to be actuated by the downward movement of said movable track section to move said stop into an inoperative position. l Q4. The combination, with a fixed track section, and a vertically movable track Section, of a stop inovably supported near said fixed track section, a lever connected with said stop, a spring` to actuate said lever to' move said stop into its operative position, and a part arranged to be actuated by the downward nioveii'ient of said movable track section and operatively connected to said lever to move said stop into its operative position.

25. 'llie combination, with a fixed track section, and a vertically movable track section, of' stops'inovably supported near said fixed track section, toggle levers connected with said stops, means for moving said levers in one direction to move said stops into their operative positions, and means controlled by the downward movement of said movable track section for actuating said levers to move said stops into their inoperative positions.

26. 'llie combination, with a fixed track section and a vertically movable track section,of stops inovably supported near said fixed track section, toggle levers connected with said stops, a spring connected to said toggle levers to move said stops toward their Y operative positions, a bell crank lever con nec-ted with said toggle levers t0 move said stops into their inoperative positions and arranged to be actuated by the movement ot said movable track section.

27. 'llie combination, with a fixed. track section, a vertically movableJ track section and stops arranged adjacent to the respective track sections, ot means controlled by the downward movementof said movable track section to move the stop adjacent to said fixed track section into an inoperative position, and means controlled by the upward movement of said movable track section to move the stop adjacent thereto into an inoperative position.

2S. rllie combination, with a fixed track section, a vertically movable track section, and stops adjacent to the respective track sections, otl means positively actuated by the downward movement of said movable track section to move the stops adjacentl to said fixed track section into inoperative posi tions,'and n xans` positively actuated by the upward -inovement of"- said movable track sect-ion to move the stops adjacent thereto `into inoperative positions.

29. ,llie combination `with an elevatorA t I platform, and :L stop inovably mounted #,t-litereon, of means for moving said stop into an inoperative position when the platform assumes its normal position and for retaining said stop in an operative position when said platform is moved away from its norma'l posit-ion, and means controlled independently of the movement of said platform to cause said stop to move into its operative position. j

30. The combination, with an elevator platform adapted to support a cai', and astop pivotally mounted on said platform, of means controlled by the position of said platform, to retain said stop in an operative position when said platform is elevated and to move said stop into an inoperative position when said plat-form is moved into its normal position, and means controlled by the movement of said car relatively to said platform to' cause said stop to assume an operative position.

31. The combination, with an elevator platform, a stop pivotally mounted thereon, and means to hold said stop normally in an operative position, of a trigger arranged to move said stop into an inoperativeposition, and automatic means for actuating said trigger to release said stop and permit it to move into an o erative position."

' 32. The com ination, with an elevator platform, a stop pivotally mounted thereon, 9

and mea-ns to hold said stop normally in an operative position, of a trigger arranged to move said stop into an inoperative posit-ion. and a lever connected with said trigger and extending into the path of the car discharged from said platform, whereby the discha ge `of s a id car will actuate said trigger to release saidY stop and permit the saine to'move into its operative position.

33. The combination, with an elevator platform, a track leading thereto and coniprising a fixed 'track section and a movable track section interposed between said fixed track section and said elevator platform, and stops arranged to control the movement of the cars on said fixed track section, said movable track section and said elevator latforni, respectively, of means controlled by the movement of said movable tracksection for moving said stops into and out of their operative positions.

,34. The combination, with an \elevator platform, a track leading thereto and comprising a fixed track section and a movable i Ameans ('ontroilw'l by the npwzml moven'lent hervfor into an inoperative position, and i form assumes itis normal postornnd means to move said stop into an operative position of Huid movnlilo truck section for moving@ wlwn a om' is discharged from sauhplatthe Siop for said elm-'Mor platform into :1n i form onto said track.

opcraivo position. In testhnony whereof I afX my signature 15 S5. The voinhiimiiom with un clvvnor in presence of hvowitnesses.

lni'ornn n .sion pivoiniiy inonnt'od thorvon, GRANT HOLMES.

sniil pinivi'orm` o1' :mmm io more szxilx'i stop;

inlo :in inopilrniiw pomilion \\h(^1|Stxii Nini- \\"iinvsses WALTER C. LINDLEY, (nn'rnnnn L?. KOCH. 

